Francis X. McMahon, Esq. / President
The founder and president of Advocacy Solutions, Frank has deep expertise in ally development, grassroots and grasstops coalition building, strategic communications management, and online advocacy for clients in a wide range of industries including healthcare, telecommunications, energy, and transportation.
Over the course of his career, Frank has been a key staff member and advisor on many winning political and issue campaigns. He served as Special Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff to Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun and has led campaigns for Honda Motor Corporation, Verizon, and National Grid.
An avid Friar Basketball fan, Frank is a graduate of Providence College, Suffolk University Law School, and a member of the Rhode Island State and Federal Bar Association, Frank lives with his wife and three children in Barrington, Rhode Island.
Daniel Connors, Esq. / Director, Policy and Research
As a practicing attorney and policymaker Dan’s expertise lays in researching and developing public affairs strategy and public policy initiatives.
Dan was first elected — at age 20 — to the Rhode Island Senate in 1996. In 2008, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Senate Majority Leader. Dan currently serves as Chair of the New England Board of Higher Education and has previously served as: the chairman of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Board of Directors, a member of the Rhode Island State Investment Commission, and a member of the Rhode Island Refunding Bond Authority.
A life-long resident of Rhode Island, Dan is a graduate of Cumberland High School. He earned his B.A. from Providence College in 1998; and his J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law in 2002. He is an attorney in private practice, a visiting lecturer in strategic management at Providence College, and has previously served as Director of Human Resources for the Town of Cumberland.
Chris Hunter / Managing Director, Strategy and Development
Chris is an expert at designing and executing successful issue campaigns with a strong focus on stakeholder coalition building and electronic advocacy techniques.
Chris has run successful referendum, issue, and public awareness campaigns for several health care, higher education, telecommunications, and financial services clients including Wal-Mart, Genentech, Blue Cross Blue Shield of America, Walgreens, and Verizon.
A nationally recognized expert on Internet privacy and free speech issues, Chris joined Advocacy Solutions after five years as a public policy researcher at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania.
As a policy expert, he has testified before Congress on the safety of the Internet for children and has been quoted in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Interactive Week, and major academic journals.
Chris holds a BA from Boston College and an MA from the University of Pennsylvania.
Michael F. Ryan, Jr / Account Manager, Public Affairs and Government Relations
Mike assists in the development and execution of comprehensive lobbying strategies for a wide variety of government relations clients.
Specializing in policy research and analysis, legislative tracking, legislative strategy and drafting testimony, Mike ensures that the client’s interests are well-represented at the State House. His clients include Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Verizon, Progressive Insurance and New England Financial Services Association.
Mike holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island.
Liz White / Account Manager, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications
Liz develops and manages integrated public affairs strategies for a range of clients and causes. She provides communications support to the account team and clients through issue research and analysis, media monitoring and environmental scanning, and development and production of communications materials. Liz also provides crisis communications and government relations support to clients in the healthcare, education, social services, and housing sectors.
Prior to her role in public affairs, Liz was a Legislative Analyst for Advocacy Solutions’ State Relations division, acting as a consultant to statewide associations, including nonprofits, trade groups, coalitions, and professional associations. She also served as a Government Relations and Communications Assistant at the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, and as a volunteer Spanish translator at the Providence Community Health Centers.
Liz holds a B.S. in Health Policy and Management and a B.A. in Spanish from Providence College.
Sarah Beron / Account Coordinator, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications
Sarah assists with an array of integrated public affairs projects ranging from education reform to non-profit work. Her analytical skills and eagerness to tackle projects from the ground up make her a versatile team player.
Prior to joining Advocacy Solutions LLC, Sarah graduated from Roger Williams University where she studied Media Communication and Chinese. She brings with her extensive internship experience from two public relations firms and the Office of the Rhode Island Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis. Sarah was previously the Vice President of Rhode Island’s only chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, and a received “Honorable Mention” in a 2010-2011 national public relations competition for Ally Financial.
Amanda Clarke / Legislative Analyst, Government Relations
Amanda is an integral member of the government relations team, assisting with policy research and analysis, legislative tracking, and drafting testimony.
Prior to joining the team at Advocacy Solutions LLC, Amanda worked at the United Way of Rhode Island, where she provided staff support for community investment and public policy initiatives, monitored legislation, and conducted concentrated research as a project manager in the Community Investment department.
Amanda holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.P.A. from the University of Rhode Island.
